Le Bernadine

This was one of my first meals back in New York City this summer, was lunch at Le Bernadine, a 3 Star Michelin French Restaurant known for its fish courses. The lunch Prix-Fixe (3 courses) costs $80, a very good price for the food in my opinion. 

Warm Peektoe Maryland Lump Crab; Shaved Heirloom Cauliflower, Mustard Emulsion

It really doesn't look like much but the crab was so sweet and I loved the texture! I didn't fancy the cauliflower tho, they were hard, but doubt they were raw, maybe blanched. But they were still too crunchy for my liking.

Pan Roasted Lobster; Baby Leeks, Sunchoke Puree; Red Wine "Sauce Americaine"

This was available at a supplement of $15 USD. The best lobster I ever had! 

I know its a fish restaurant, you must be wondering why I ordered lobster. I had lobster because its one that can be finicky to cool and if a kitchen masters that, they are good. Lobsters can often be easily overcooked, making them chewy and bleh. 

This wasn't that chewy overcooked white meat at all! It was done just nice and the shell came away from the flesh without effort, no tugging hehe. The red wine sauce complemented the taste of the lobster very well, not over-powering it. Great choice in my opinion :) 

The red wine sauce filling every crevice on the surface of the warm lobster.

After a satisfying main, its time for dessert :)

Elderflower-Scented Strawberries, Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta, Frozen Strawberry Snowflakes

A very simple dish but effort was made to elevate it. The frozen strawberry snowflakes are what I think space ice cream would taste like, just that this was cold. :) A very interesting addition. Ohhh and those green worms, have no idea what they are but they remind me of chendol, and like chendol, they aren't exactly strong tasting.

Ginger-Scented Melon "Bomb", Passion Fruit Macaron

One set meal comes with only one dessert. Eating a prix fixe with an asian family is very different from that with a western family, cos you will find asians are always pushing dishes they find nice to let others try. Sometimes this gets awkward when you're dining in a classy restaurant and such behaviour might be frowned upon.

But anyway, this was a deconstructed macaron dessert my sis had and it came looking like they'd placed a ping pong ball on the dish. They later explain that the chef suggests cracking the melon bomb before beginning the dessert. :) I'm always enthralled with the idea of fun food and this got me very happy :)

Overall, the meal was enjoyable. Food was superb. BUT... Here it comes. 

I didn't enjoy the dining experience because I felt the restaurant is over-staffed. You have like 5-6 servers serving my table of 8 and I didn't appreciate people constantly buzzing around interrupting my conversation with others at the table. I guess, if you're there only to critique the food, you'd be having a wonderful time because the mains are just done so flawlessly. But if you're there to spend time with family then nah. People keep interrupting you until you're done with dessert. 

Another thing was, the restaurant was very noisy. Perhaps its acoustics of the place, i don't know. Every cling and clang of cutlery from other tables could be heard and it just didn't feel like a fine dining experience. Perhaps they should consider losing those polished wooden panels all around, its reflecting sound everywhere. 

Having said that, if you're not too bothered by the ambience, the food is really sublime and its worth a try. If budget's an issue, lunch is a better deal compared to dinner because its more affordable and you still experience the skill of the chef.